What if the future of EV adoption doesn’t start with new cars — but with used ones?
In this EV Insider episode, Scott Case sits down with Danny Papakalos, Corporate Director of Pre-Owned Operations at #1 Cochran, the largest automotive retailer in Western Pennsylvania. Danny has a unique view: his job only lives in the pre-owned space, and he believes used EVs will be the single biggest growth opportunity in 2026 and beyond.
Danny explains why EV loyalty is shockingly strong, how affordability is about to shift millions of shoppers toward used EVs, and why the industry urgently needs to rethink how it markets batteries, range, and long-term cost of ownership.
In this episode:
Why suburbs are becoming EV hotbeds in Pittsburgh.
The “EV infectious disease effect”: how one EV in a neighborhood leads to six or seven.
Why once buyers try EVs, they never go back — and what that means for future loyalty.
How the used EV market mirrors the early success of Lexus Certified Pre-Owned — and why that analogy matters.
The affordability crisis coming in 2026 — and why used EVs will solve it for millions of shoppers.
How #1 Cochran evaluates used EVs, where they place them, and why the brand rooftop doesn’t matter.
The battery perception problem, and how education — not incentives — is the key to mass adoption.
Why 3–5 year-old EVs still have 90–95% battery health, and why dealers should be shouting this from the rooftops.
Danny’s blueprint for the perfect EV ad: peace of mind, future cost, and clarity.
Whether you’re a shopper, dealer, or industry analyst, this is one of the clearest, most compelling frameworks for understanding how used EVs will transform the market.
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